Cross-cultural Communication Styles

Intercultural Business Communication

Instructor: Hsin-Hsin Cindy Lee, PhD

Unit 7: Additional Points to the Model of Synthetic Cultures

Contents Part I Low-Context VS High-Context

CulturesPart II Poly-chronic VS Mono-chronic

CulturesPart III ExercisesCheckpoint & References

Low-Context VS High-Context Cultures

Part I

Low-Context VS High-Context Cultures

Low-Context and High-Context cultures suggest two different

types of communication.

The ‘context ‘here indicates the messages hidden in the (oral) communication or background

information underling the exchange.

High Context CultureA high-context communication is one in

which most of the information is either in the physical context or internalised in the person.

The message is very little coded, explicit or transmitted in the language.

Meaning does not always have to be put into words

Non-verbal clues are also important. E.g. ‘Yes’ can mean anything from ‘I agree’, to ‘I am listening’, to ‘no’!

Relationship building is important in high-context culture .

Low-Context CultureA low-context communication is

just the opposite.The mass of information is vested in

the explicit code. In low-context cultures meaning is

made very clear, and put into words.These cultures tend to be task-centred

rather than relationship-centred.

Examples

High context

Japan

Greece

Spain

Italy

UK

France

USA

Scandinavia

Germany

Low Context

Poly-chronic VS Mono-chronic Cultures

Part II

Mono-chronic VS Poly-chronic Cultures

Poly-chronic VS Mono-chronic Cultures

Poly-chronic Culture Mono-chronic Culture

In poly-chronic culture, it is acceptable to do several things at the same time.

People are able to attend to multiple events simultaneously.

The approach to deadlines is flexible.

In mono-chronic cultures, one thing is done at a time

People tend to handle events sequentially.

Stress are laid on meeting deadlines and schedules.

Exercises

Part III

Case 1 A British businessman – Andrew Gibson- in Saudi

Arabia is keen to secure an important deal. He has a tight schedule, and can’t afford to

waste any time. His frustration increases because he has to wait

for ages to get an appointment with his Saudi partner.

Meetings never start on time, and when they do, there are frequent interruptions, with people coming in to get papers signed.

The Saudi partner even takes pone calls when his visitor is in the room.

Andrew feels very uneasy at the end.

Your Analysis of Case 1 Andrew Gibson represents …….. culture. In his

culture, people tend to ……… Mr. Gibson’s Saudi partner comes from ………...

culture. In his culture, people tend to …………Mr. Gibson felt frustrated mainly because …………..

Case 2Roberto: Miss Thomas! How nice to see you.Mrs Thomas: How are you, Roberto?Roberto: Fine, fine. Thank you. What can I get for you?Mrs Thomas: Well, to start with I’d like half a dozen eggs.Roberto: Yes. No problem.Ms Thomas: And then I’d like 500 grams of butter.Roberto: Yes. Ah, Octavio! Good to see you. Come estas? Octavio: Bien, gracias. And you?Roberto: Bien. How can I help you? Octavio: I need some bananas. Roberto: Yes, of course. Hello! Rosita! Mrs Thomas: Roberto, I thought you were helping me. Roberto: But I am helping you, Ms Thomas.

Your Analysis of Case 2Roberto represents …….. culture. In his

culture, people tend to ……… Mrs. Thomas represents ………... culture. In

her culture, people tend to …………Mrs. Thomas felt confused mainly because

…………..

Analysis

Andrew GibbsonMrs. Thomas

Saudi business manRoberto

In a mono-chronic culture, people get the exclusive attention of whomever they talking to, and your business is completed before the business of someone else is started.

E.g. Germany, USA

Poly-chronic cultures are less linear and more dynamic; several transactions can be carried out at the same time.

It’s rude for Roberto, for example, to ignore other customers.

If you are meeting with someone in a poly-chronic culture, don’t expect him/her to close the door or switch off the cell phone. (E.g. Taiwan, Arabia)

Checkpoint How do people of Low-Context culture

communicate?How do people of High-Context Culture

communicate?How do people of Poly-chronic Culture do daily

routine? How do people of Mono-chronic Culture do daily

routine? Have you done the exercises? Do you have any

questions? What is your communication style? What kind of culture do you come from?

References Gert Jan Hofstede, Paul B. Pedersen Geert

Hofstede (2002) Exploring Culture. Intercultural Press.

Craig Storti (1994) Cross-Cultural Dialogues.

Intercultural Press. Robert Gibson (2002) Intercultural Business Communication. Oxford University

Press.

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